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KNOCKDOWN HOUSE. No. 604,277. Patented May 17, 1898.

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KNOCKDOWN HOUSE. ,277. Patented May l?, 1898.

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PETER A. TOFFT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KNOCKDOWN HOUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,277, dated May 17,1898. Application led September 9, 1897. Serial No. 651,115. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER' A. TOFFT, of New York city, in the county andState of New York,have invented a new and Improved Knockdown House, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in knockdown houses, or thatclass of houses intended to be readily taken apart and moved from placeto place and also to be readily set up when desired.

The house is in general of a hemispherical shape, and consists ofvertical ribs extending from the base toward the apex and provided withgrooves in their edges andV of plates which slide within these groovesand overlap each other. These parts are all divisible into smallsections, so that they may be readily transported from place to place.

The invention also consists of the novel features of constructionhereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis speciiication, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my house with a portion broken out at oneside. Fig. 2 is an elevation with a portion broken out to show theinterior. Fig. 2' is a horizontal section through the doors, taken ontheline 2a 2a of Fig. 2. Fig. 2b is a vertical section on the line 2b 2bof Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the center, which receives theupper ends of the ribs, the ends of the ribs being shown in place. Fig.4. is a Vertical section of the same, taken upon the line 4. 4L of Fig.3. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are a perspective, a plan, and a sectional view of,a portion of one of the ribs, consisting of two sections thereof. Figs.8 and 9 are sectional views taken through parts where the sections ofthe ribs are joined and showing the manner of securingthem together.Fig. 10 is a plan View of a small segment of the house-wall. Fig. 11 isa section taken upon the line 11 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a plan viewof two sections of a rib slightly separated. Fig. 13 is a plan view ofthe plate, which may be insertcd between the ribs at the point ofjuncture of two plates of the wall. Fig. 14. isa plan of a small segmentof the roof, showing the manner of putting the parts together; and Fig.15 is a perspective view of a modified construction for the platesforming the outer and inner portions of the ribs.

The object of my invention is to provide a house which may be quickiyset up or taken down and which may be divided into such small membersthat they may be easily handled and carried wherever it is possible forman to go and carry anything with him.

This house is particularly designed for use by miners, travelers, andother people residing or traveling in out-of-the-way and inaccessibledistricts, particularly in cold countries. It is constructed entirely ofmetal or of other material, which may be worked into plates and barssimilarly to metal.

The house consists of the vertical ribs A, which curve from their bottomtoward the center piece at the top of the house, the plates D, which areinserted in grooves formed in the edges of said ribs, and bars Bextending about the base of the house and acting as a band or hoop toresist outward pressure. The upper ends of the ribs A are all insertedin a socket formed in the center piece and extending entirely aroundlthe same. This center piece is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, and

or spacing member E, which is inserted between them. These three platesare secured to each other by means of rivets e and are all provided witha central hole e2, which acts as a ventilating-oriiice and may, ifdesired, be provided with an upwardly-extending pipe. The central washeror spacing-ring E is of considerably less diameter than the plates E.This forms a socket whichextends around `the center plates and withinwhich the upper ends of the ribs A are inserted. The upper sections ofthese ribs diier from the other sections in that the plates forming therib are all carried out to the same length and that the ends areslightly beveled, as clearly shown at ain Figs. 3, 5, and 6. This bevelis such that the ends of the ribs fit snugly in the space between thetwo plates E, entirely filling the same. also provided with a hole a',adapted to receive a bolt c', which passes through the outer edges ofthe plates E and the rib. The secconsists of the annular plat-esE andthe washer The upper ends of the sections are tions of the ribs are eachformed of three plates. The two outer plates A and A3 are of the samewidth. The inner plate A2 is narrower than the plates A and A3 and isplaced centrally between them, so that when the three plates are joinedtogether a groove will be left on each side of the rib. At the endsthese plates are placed so that each succeeding plate in the sectionextends farther than the last one, thus forming two offsets, as clearlyshown in plan in Fig. l2-that is, the lower end of the plate A extendsfarther down than the lower end of the central plate A2, and this latterfarther than the lower end of the plate A3. Similarly the plates A4, A5,and A6, forming the next section of the rib, are made to projectsuccessively farther than the last plates, so that when the two sectionsare placed end to end the plates will lap by each other, as shown inFigs. 5 and 7. In doing this the outer plate of one section is made tobutt against the central plate of the other section. This forms groovesA7, which are offset at the point of junction of two sections, thusproviding means for securely holding a plate therein. The ribs A areformed in sections in this manner of such a length as may be deemeddesirable and with as great a number of sect-ions as may be necessaryrto secure the completed length of rib. The ribs at their lower ends aresecured to each other by means of the plates B, which may be made ofsuch a length as to reach over more than one of the spaces between theribs, if desired, but which preferably are made to reach only from onerib to the next one. These plates are secured to the bottom of the ribsin a Inanner-which will be hereinafter described.

When the ribs are put in position, the plates D, which are each of sucha shape as to fill its respective place, are inserted into the groovesof the ribs. The offset in the grooves at the point of junction of thesections serves to hold the lower edge of each of these plates andprevent its falling down, and the grooves A7 in adjacent ribs securelyhold the side edges of the plates. At the point Where the offset is madebetween adjacent sections of the ribs the grooves A7 in adjacentsections slightly overlap. As a result of this the several plates Doverlap each other, the upper plate being the outer one. (See Fig. l.)This forms a tight joint and prevents entrance of water or snow.

The bottom ring or hoop B is formed double-that is, of an outer and aninner plate, and these plates are secured to the bottom ends of theribs. The point of separation of adjacent plates in the hoop or ring Bis preferably made upon the aperture through which the locking-bolt ispassed. This locking-bolt C, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is provided witha head C' and with washers O2, which are in the form of bars extendingto 'I .c 65`some distance on opposite sides of the boltaperture. Thesebars are, provided with inwardly-turning pins or points O 3,and theplates was, l

forming the ring B are also provided with holes adapted to receive thesepoints and thus to lock the plates Vsecurely to the ribs and. to eachother. These washers C2 maybe made, as shown in Fig. 8, with the pins C3of such a length as to reach entirely through all the plates at thispoint or, as shown in Fig. 9, with pins of such a length as to reach tothe center thereof and two washers be used, one upon each side of theplates. The nuts which screw upon the bolts C are preferably made insuch a shape that they may be screwed down firmly by hand.

The particular construction of the nut which I prefer is that shown inFigs. 8 and 9. In said iigures the nut is shown as provided with a heador ring C4, which furnishes a broad surface for engagement by the handfor turning the nut and securing the parts in place and also servesanother useful purpose-that is, when this nut is placed inside the houseit furnishes a convenient device to which any article may be attached.

As shown in Fig. 2, a stand F of any convenient form may be provided forthe center of the house. The legs of this stand rest upon the ground andare connected to a cornmon plate F' at the top. The legs are alsoprovided at or near the top with rings F2 or other suitable device, towhich a rope may be attached. As shown in Fig. 2, a hammock may then beattached between the eyes Ctl of the nuts and the rings attached to thestand F. In this way a series of hammocks may be swung about the houseand furnish sleeping accommodation for a large number of men.

It is of course understood that the stand F will either be firmlysecured against u psettin g or be 'guyed from the opposite side of thehouse either by special guy-ropes or by other hammocks attached thereto.In this way the ends of the bolts which secure the parts together may beutilized for attaching any article desired thereto. Certain of theplates D may, if desired, be provided with holes d, within which areplaced circular glasses,

vwhich will permit entrance of light without admitting the air.

If desired, a plate I, such as shown in Figs. 13 and- 14, may beprovided for insertion between the adjacent edges of the plates D. Thisplate I is provided with a lug or extension I at each end, adapted toenter notches formed in the edges of the central plate of the ribs, asshown in Fig. 14.. This securely holds the plate in place and preventsits removal. In using the plate its upper edge will be placed beneaththe upper one of the plates D and the lower edge above the upper portionof the plate D next below.

The house :may also be provided with a Ventilating-pipe G, which isconnected with the lower part of the house and extends verticallyoutside of the same. This pipe will provide for the admission of freshair in case the house should be entirely buried in snow. At one side ofthe house an opening is formed roo IZO

adapted to receive the doors H, which slide in grooves formed on theinside of the house, as shown in Figs. 2fL and 2b. These doors aredouble, each half sliding toits side and meeting in the middle to closethe opening. As will be seen from the construction described, this housemay be taken apart vinto pieces which are of comparatively small sizeand thus may be carried to any point desired. It will also take but ashort time to erect the house or take it down, and the house is capableof sheltering a large number of men. Theplates forming the top of thehouse are made of very thin metal, and consequently weigh but little.The ribs A are also made of comparatively thin plate and will thus weighbut little.

If desired, other material than metal may be used in the constructionofV the house. Metal has been referred to, as it is more readilyobtained and more common in the particular forms which would be used inconstructing this house. It is, however, possible that the ribs as wellvafs the plates may be made of wood or paper suitably prepared for thispurpose. I do not therefore wish to be confined to the use of metal forthis purpose, although metal has been described as the material of whichit has been constructed.

When it is desired to make the ribs unusually strong, the outer platesthereof may be made as shown in Fig. 15. These plates are made of stripsP, bent at an angle and secured together, giving the whole a T-section.The bases of these strips P are made so that the ends of each pair comeat the same place, but so that the ends of the inwardly-projecting angesdo not correspond. One of these iianges is made to extend beyond theother, as shown at p2, and the bases of the sections overlap, as shownat p'. As a consequence the joints are formed by overlapping at allpoints, and the parts are secured together by bolts 19. Where hammocksare suspended from the ribs, a brace R should be provided to extend fromthe rib to the ioor to strengthen the rib.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. Aknockdown house, made in the general form of adome, having ribs formed of plates secured together so as to leave agroove in each edge, a central crown formed of two plates securedtogether and having sockets between their edges adapted to receive theupper ends of the ribs, and plates adapted to enter the grooves in theedges of the ribs and t between adjacent ribs, substantially asdescribed.

2. Aknockdown house, made in the general form of a dome, having ribsformed of plates secured together so as to leave a groove in each edge,said ribs being made in sections which may be secured together at theirends, the outer layer of each section registering with the groove in thesection next above, a central crown,consisting of two plates securedtogether and having sockets between their edges adapted to receive theupper ends of the ribs, and plates adapted to enter the grooves in theedges of and iit between the adjacent ribs, substantially as described.

8. A knockdown house, having hooks or eyes attached to the inner wallsthereof at intervals, and a central stand having hooks or rings thereon,said wall and center rings being adapted to support hammocks,substantially as described.

4c. A knockdown house, composed of ribs meeting at their upper ends andhaving grooves in their edges, segmental plates adapted to t the groovesin the edges of the ribs, and an encircling band surrounding the base ofthe house, said ribs and bands being made in sections and boltedtogether, substantially as described.

5. A knockdown house, composed of vertical ribs meeting at their upperends and having grooves in their edges, segmental plates adapted to fitthe grooves in the edges'of the ribs, and an encircling band surroundingthe base of the house, said ribs and bands being made in sections andbolted together, said houseA having a door-opening on one side, guidesadjacent thereto, and a door sliding therein, substantially asdescribed.

6. A knockdown house, composed of ribs meeting overhead and havinggrooves in their edges, a central crown receiving the upper endsthereof, said crown being formed of two plates having a spacing-washerbetween, segmental plates adapted to fit the grooves in the edges of theribs, and an encircling band surrounding the edges of the house andsecured to the lower ends of the ribs, substantially as described.

7. A sectional or knockdown house, having ribs formed in short sections,each section consisting of two outer plates of substantially the samewidth and an interposed plate of narrower width, thus forming a groovein each edge, the plates at the joining ends of the sections projectingsuccessively at a greater distance, and adjacent sections being joinedto each other by batting an outer plate of each section against thecentral plate of the other section, and securing the sections throughthe overlapping parts, substantially as described.

PETER A. TOFFT.

WVitnesses:

J A ooB SEIBERT, Jr., THos. J. IIAMILroN.

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